Pumping-type flotation apparatus



Sept. 30, 1952 A. c. DAMAN PUMPING-TYPE FLOTATION APPARATUS Filed June 14. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

AR /me 0. 1711mm ATIJRA/EI Sept. 30, 1952 A. c. DAMAN 2,612,358

PUMPING-TYPE FLOTATION APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1947 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

AR THIE/R 6. 17mm P 1952 A. c. DAMAN 2,612,358

PUMPING-TYPE FLOTATION APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 427110)? c. DAMAIV Patented Sept. 30, 1952 PUMPING-TYPE FLOTATION APPARATUS I QQ Daman Denver, Colo; assignor to I Mining-P ocess mil- C mpany, Denver 0010.,- a eorporation ,of -Delzwvare I :'nppfieation-June-m, 1947, serialrnoi 155L653 J 41:1 glaims. (01161 -33) f rms invention relates to improvements $116 fm'thflotation ieppar-atus, and more pm ticue lax-1y relates to oertain improvements-win ...-the iroth over flowand mixing functionv of froth fffl'o-i tation -apparatuswf the suheaer'ation type.

v 1 In conventional froth "flotation practices,iiiti has been -=eustomary=to-- provide a stati-on-ary froth overflow lip =-aiong-one-side of the =fiotation ma- (Shh-1e," usually the mint-side,- -an-d then regulate the 1iq-l11-d 18Ve1 in =-t-he machin -on in individual cel ls--of a m aohine to provide-a bed-of froth-of v selectivedepth -=to---overflow a given portion uni the concentrate. With the--a dvent of mew-flotationjreagents; the character of the froth-or foam "is '-being' -ohanged, --andpa'rtic-,uia-ri-y there is ar-trend away fromwolumihhoand tenacious fi oths; iEnv'most-instances', a. brittle -f-re'th "will be preferred because "-of thereamed treatm-ent taiioii' eeii arid mounted ifqr niovehi i tolsele time, required-in the fhandling =of a --eoncentr-ate maftefiai imsubseg-nent treatments. voluminous fIOthSITaIfB'ZfIEQUBIItIY objectionable because of the, coalescence occurring at the overflow zone with concentrate loss tine *to'fshatterin g of bubbles. "Howeveiyjo efiectiveiy use a brittle froth whioh is relatively ,shaliow in depth,- it is necessaty fto tprovide a close control of'thefover flow"i1eme1 ,.ar rd ,ialso Ito provideffor -;a ma-ms ohhi ge of h the concentrate material Jafter it tea. hes'thefrothbei 1 i "711 IiSBn'Dbfject iofithie present inventio tom-qr. iiideiisimple, humble and 'emci nt p ratus o insunng prompt;rem-ova1..;Qf;.iroth from affl 'ta tio i ;'-c;e11;at. enyi nesired -eievation "in the ,f qth zone. 1 v n I "-iiAnother QJQJ'ectofIthe intentionji's to proyide e'n'" improved appamti flier mixing the p iip teed, -air "recirculating pu'lpin the. agitation zone of. aj fiot-ationltiieatment. f

mn' tui'the'r obictflofi the invention to proyide Dum n means in assooiationlwith the jimn'eIler ofi'aLflotationimalchine of thetub-aeratigin type toI aeee1erate .-the mixing on matter ,at thegintake Side o-f tl'llfimpellet. Y i v i Still. anotherxibjeot of. the, inventionjis topm- .-v1de' in p 'rmlecl.v mea s v ie mi in ,atmoapherz Hium'in a ,froth flotation process-j.

.Z'O'ther liobiects' inside iininoivei aeiaiis ,Qi1.-o.n-. gtmctionjndhnoirelieomhinations and. arming the flower end of -.the hollow column show-the arrangementof interior parts,

tiye elevationswithin 5amcell. The seeond 1 vplves the nixing junction van;iincludes them; visioniof mi er a xi i ry .imp ll im es yrifrom :the impeller, into i v P. r d e ed o mee nxii g. p iori itre-idilt-tiioniont -the r tatin m e ler f I iin fe ab y the iroth i iiiid 1541 esuchisiz d hape .9 bst t al i-y o er he feed, 0::

, ext nd ng to ia subst m e iqella The-ov rflow den ireiiete miiie t pr id non '.,;of a iven am un 1 o ;Q Il eI t f f-riot h bed at,the .:topi9fi hehell "The, practice of the whom-intention beat understood.hyzrieferen e tpgthe i ing drawings. .In ,the g awings, in ,th views OI-JW'hiGh like .pa-rts' valffi v.iisiz iariy, v

uF'ig. 1 visa-:veliiii lali.0911121 2 .L QfliiQH i multiecell -.:Elotation machine embodyin of theepresent mvention; 1

Fig. 2 is a top pl-anview.ofthemachineifillflm iniFig; 1, partially; broken way: to wfih' miilt 2& rangementof inteitiorypartsinand 3 1;; Fig; @3 i iani.end;ielevatiomopartiaily broken to i :i'Ih'e' apparatus illustrated in. the ed-iiaitingsixis atypical multi-cell flotation imaohinegshowing the---=detai1 :ofthe. first and 1 last '.-i.-cel'1 @fiiaiiselties of cells, -whichmayibe any plura l ityi-trlntermediateoelis of any seriea-ofiithreeior more' iwould utilize M an intake -01 feed arrangement; .eonrespending 1 to that i shown the .last eeeli i of :the series while the discharge end of -:the cell would be --su-b'stantia1iy similar to the dis chatge endmf thefiret-ceii illustrated.

isdesignated -'-C -and----the- :last oell =is desi gone or a plurality of screws I 3 (here shown as 2) by which it may be moved to selective elevations in the cell.

In order to provide the necessary overflow level regulation for launder I2, I provide slat ,weirs I4 along both sides and the top and in this way its effective elevation can be made to correspond to the positioning of the launder 12a.

The collected concentrate flows from a bottom opening IS in launder l2 to any suitable con-.

duit (not shown) and the concentrate collected other than by collection in the launders I2 and by launder [2a flows through an outlet '16 flexible conduit H to a point of discharge outside cell C. V

An impeller is mounted for rotation on a shaft 2| near the bottom of each cell and has a stationary hood or cover member 22 overhanging the impeller in spaced and proximate relation.- The shaft is journaled for rotation" in abearing assembly 23 supported from superstructure 24 andpreferably arranged for'ad justment to v selective elevations in the cell through the provision of slotted plates 25 by whichithe bearing assembly is supported on the superstructure. 26 or other prime mover, which, as illustrated. in Fig. 1, also is supported from a slotted plate;

The shaft is driven by a "motor 21 for selective adjustment to different elevations in, the cell. Suitable transmission 28 con-. heats the motor to shaft in driving relation. 7

Each of said shafts is enclosed in" ahollow column 30 supported from the hub portion 3|. of coverplate' 22 and a't'ubular partition'mem ber 32 dividesthe interior space of column'30 into inner and outer passages 33a and 33b respectively. Air or other-aerating gas is introduced into two conduits 34a and 34b which empty into the passages 33a and 3312 respectively. The gas delivered through passage 33a, or a portion of the same enters a T-shaped passage 35 in shaft 2! and discharges from the under surface of the impeller, and due to the provision of blades 'or'vanes 36 this gas mixes with pulpon the bottom of the respective cells and subjects said v materials to intensive mixing. 1

'If additional'mixing is required, .airor. ,other. gas may be introduced through bottominlets 31. Feed to the cell 0 enters through inlet 9 and then circulates about the cell for. return throughone or more nipples .38, which maybe closed'by screw'fplugs 39, if desired. yA feed tube 40 may be utilized to conduct feed from inlet 9 or a feed box 41. As shown,:such a tube "is provided in cell C'.,'.but not in cell C, Whenthe feed tube is not used, a return tube 42- is;provided to recirculate pulpfrom a following feed box, to the impeller-enclosure.

Sometimes a greater amount of recirculation is required, and an opening 43 in the hubjnor;

mally closed by a plug 44 may be opened to effect thisreturn. A runner 45 or auxiliary-1m: peller, of the pump-runner type ism unted n shaft 2| within hub 3| to pre-mix gas andpulp priorto its introduction onto andfinal mixing by the impeller .20.v This ;runner hasgradial blades 46 of tapering section so that they will be,

equally effective in right-hand or left-hand op- I eration. a i

In addition to the recirculating features herethrough a nipple 41 at, the front of the maclii e. v

Whenbothmaterialsare so fed to'the machine a T-fltting 48 is fitted on the nipple and'a gas supp yconduit 49'a'nd" a pulp-supply conduit drain opening 5 9 is provided for cleanout purposes. .In' the operation-pf a single; cell, .pulp is:;fed through a feed inlet 9: or a: feed tube-J40, while: air 'or..'other aeratinggas such as ,CO or thelike is introduced; through supply conduits 134.111.8116. 34b into the. passages 33a; and ,,3,3b of, hollowcolumn 30:.and, may be introduced through-the lower inletsgfl'lyiif extra-aerationisrequired.;;;1fi

fed through the inlet, 9 the entering pulp mixes with circulating aerated pulp andaportion i i u e i ...dr wn n er, t e 'imn ll raml u jected tot i iona m x n with as .s sr:

me ei her t o theuT-s a edr a age. 5.:

After h t al ix a th aerated r le circulates intopthe impeller, -through -opening or b t 1 .e. tatt e vamp re-a i n. of the runner 45 this pulp mixes with gas feii downwardly throughlt he passages; 33d -and 33l il The resultingmixtureis forced downwardly onto the impeller where it is subjecte tdaddi'tional' mixing bythe ce rifu gall-rnov ment ana ni' beating action of; th impellers withi'n the' r'e-l' strictedspace'beneath the liooden'clos ureL Ag in, as; the pulp discharges ac 'os s.l th",l" eriphery it is subjected to furthefbreakin'gfup'againstt underhangingvanes of the hoodstructure.

In this waygnie pulp is subjected torep'eated aerating influenceswhile'circiilating in". the a'ndfthe froth formedby'thefae'ratin'g actiofilri es tothe surface carrying themiiieraljparticles With it, aiid'v cone cts in a 'bdjf or subsequent discharge by overfiow. If a middling's'produqt tends to form 'blowthe'froth bd and impedes relief opening"6'4 is" provided to passflnon-float'ed material from a preceding to asfucceedin'g can.

Under'some operating condition'sfit jwill desirable to regulate,the volume ,of },pulp"'e er. ing a given, cell through, its feed conduit 401116111 lever '61 is "provided'ijor thisipurpose anclj thus admitsmore or less'feed to the impellerjoi the pulp body in the cell, when the feed (to it 01 removed, as .cell"C.""" 1 aerate-e abovethe impeller provides a liquid seal preventing escape {ofthe aerating *gas to atmosphere, except by following the intended course through the impeller-and pulp b'ody'to the iroth bed.

Because of this, it is possible to utilize super-' charged aeration of the type disclosed 'in- Logue application, Serial No. 632,819 and his Patent No. 2,390,111, owned by the assignee of this ap plioation. Insuch event, the pum nnie-wiu assist in mixing the gas-and pulp and also ducingdischarge of the lowpressure gas.

In order to get more recirculationi pulp, removal of plug'M (Fig. 1-) will permit runner 45 to exert a .strong pumpingactionon opening 43 and this pulp, together with pulp-entering from conduits 40 or 42,1 or through pa sage 3319,-

will be premixed Withthe air stream -descen'di'r'ig through the passages 33a-and '33b befor'e passing onto the impeller. The arrangementof impeller blades, cover plate and associated vanes "serves toproduce an --inte'nse-mixing and widespread dispersion of the gas under the centrifugal influence of the impeller, so that the aerated pulp ondischarge from the impeller enclosure effi ciently carries the mineral to 'the surface; v The froth overflowing the launders Hand-12a will-passthrough the outlets l5 and 4'6 -respec-' tively, by gravity when in a sufficiently fluent condition and particularlywhen, as usual, 4 these outlets are-connected with pumps (not shown). However, when the concentrate is not of a free flowing. character, or when airaco'elerated'die charge 'is'desire'd, a hose or water line 68 (Fig-.-

2) may be directed into such launders toprovide a-source of flush Water. "From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the structure and operations disclosed attain'the several objectsof the invention in an e'ificient manner. The arrangements plus trated in the drawings are intended merely as typical examples of the practice of the present invention,- but not to limit the invention beyond the intended meaning of the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I r I 1 1 L The combination with a notation -cell 'arida rotary impeller in the lower portion of said cell, of a hood over the impeller, a hollow gas-supply column extending into the upper portion of the" cell,---a pulp-delivery conduit positioned at the bottom of said column for feeding pulp to the-- impeller, and an auxiliary impeller mounted above and spaced from the impeller within said column-forforcefully discharging gas and pulp onto the impeller.

2. The combination with a flotation cell and a rotary impeller inxthe lower portion of the cell, of a hood over the impeller, a'hollow gas-supply column extending into the upper portion of the cell and having its interior divided into a plu rality of separated passages for gas, meansfor introducing-anaerating gas into each said passage, a pulp-deliveryconduit positioned 'atfthe bottomoffsaid-column for "feeding pulp to'the impeller, and an auxiliary impeller mounted aboveandspaced from the impeller withinsaid column for-forcefully discharging-gas and pulp onto the impeller.

3. The combination with a flotation cell and a rotary impeller in the lower portion of the cell, of a hood over the impeller, a hollow gas-supply column extending into the upper portion of the cell and having its interior divided into inner and outer passages for gas, means for introducing an rior 'di'v ided into inner and outer gas-delivery rality -orseparated'passages' for 'gaa m'e'an aerating gas into each said passage, ap lbi delivery-conduit-positiolled-at th botto" ens-e121; column for feedingpulp to the i-mpellen a'hd' h auxiliary impeller mounted above andspaced from the impeller withinsaidcolumn for forcefully discharginggasand pulp-*onto-the"impellers 4. The-combination-with a flotationicellaiid a? rotaryimpeller in the lower'portion of th .cells ofa hood over the impeller, a -hol1ow-'gas-supp i column extending- *into the upper' portiori -'-i-;he= cell 'and having its "interior divid'ed i-nto 'a h).-

introducing an aerating gas into each said-pafssage: a -pulp-delivery --condui-t -positionedat the bottom of said column for feeding pulp to" the? impeller, and an auxiliary -"in'ipeller mounted above and spaced from the impeller witliin='-sai'el column for forcefully discharging-gas"and pulp onto the impeller; said auxiliary impeller 'havin'g radial "blades of tapering section-so arrangemetopump effectively either clockwise or oou' terclookwise rotation. I l s 5:.{Inflotation apparatus, a cell, a sha'f ex' tending into saidcell, animpeller carried attire: I

bottom of said shaft, a hollow column extendingupwardly from a point above the'impellerili-to the upper-portion of the cell and having itsliiite rior divided into a plurality of gasdeliver-y 'passagespine'ans for drawing pulp from the cell in o one-of the passages, means for" supplying ana aerating gas to the respective -passages,'-suction means mounted in the lower portion-of-'the"col-- umn for pumping gas ontothe impellej discharge below the impeller. 6. In flotation apparatus -a cell, a shaft ex tending into said cell, an impeller carriedjat the "bottom of said shaft, a hollow column-extending upwardly from a point "above-theihi-== peller into the upper-portion of the cell and: having its interior divided into inner -and-- outer gas-delivery' passages, means for supplyingan aeratinggas' to the respective passages, means forf drawing pulp-from-the cell into the outer pass'age suction means mounted in the lower'pbrtion ef: the column for pumping gas onto the impeller; and means, including a passageway, for-conduct?- ing *gas from the inner passage to -a' point or discharge 'below'the-impellery I 7.--In flotation apparatus, acell,-a shaft ex tending into-saidcell, an impellercarried'at the bottom of said shaft, a hollow column extending: upwardly from a point abovethe impeller into the upper portion of-the cell and having itsi xit'ea passages, means forsupplying anaeratin'g gas to "the respective passages, meansfor' d'ra'wing pulp from thecell' 'into the outer passage, an auxiliaryj impeller "mounted in the' lower'ipoi'tionof the column above the impeller'for pilmping gas downwardly onto the impe11er,-ana =mea s5 including a passageway, for conducting asrr roz'n;

l 'oint of flisohar ge below:

"nd meanspincludiiig a passagewayf for conducting gas from another of said passages toa pcint ara es 9 ,a froth flotation device of the type hav ing; a plurality of interconnected, generally; rec-j tangular cells disposed in side by-siderelation, theimprovement which comprises. a froth launder;-, disposed within and between adjacent cells andhaving portions projecting laterally into each of said adjacent cells for receiving froth therefrom, ;a; discharge conduit for discharging materiallcollected in the launder at a point outside elther of said cells, a support above the cells,'and moyablemeans carriedby the support and connected to thelaunderfor raising and lowering elwnden 5,1,0: ;-In afroth flotationdevice of thetype hav ing a; plurality of interconnected, generally rectangular; cells disposed in side-by-side relation, the; improvement which comprises a froth launden-having a hollow open transverse leg disposed,

between adjacent cellsand a hollow o en. 1ongitudinal leg communicating with the transverse leg;;;and;.; projecting into each of said adjacent cells for receiving froth therefrom, and a dis.-

charseconduit for dischargingmat-erial collected in the launder at a: point outside either of, saida froth flotation apparatus, inclusive, of; 1

cells, 1

? a cell,;.a rotary impeller in the lower portion of the cell, and' a hollow column extending froman elevation immediately over the impeller into the upperportion of the cell and having its upper, end,,sealed against the discharge of gas, the improvement which comprises partitioning means the icolumn dividing its interior into two substantiallyscoextensive passages terminating above; and adiacent theimpeller, agitating means disposed between said passages and the impeller,;.

and conduit means for supplyinggas selectively, tov achzz d pas e- -1 lln,frothflotation apparatus, inclusive of a cell, a rotary impeller in the lower portion of the cell, and a hollow column extending from an elevation: immediately over the impeller into the upper-portion of the cell and having its upper: end :sealed, against the discharge of gas, the improvement which comprises partitioning means the; column dividing its interior into two substantially coextensive passages terminating above and adjacent the impeller, agitating means dis-- posedbetween said passages and the impeller,

conduit means for supplying gas selectively to,

eachjsaid passage, and means for recirculating: pulp;.-from an upper portion of the cell into one said passage.

13. In a froth acell, a rotary impeller in the lower portionof the cell; and a hollow columnextendingfroman; elevation-immediately ,over'the impeller into the; upper 'portion of the .cell and having its upper:

end sealedagainst the discharge of-gas, the im-- provement which" comprises partitioning means: inthe column dividing itsinterior into two sub: stantially, coextensive concentric passages termlhating above and adjacent the impellenagltat ing meansdisposedbetween said passages andthe impeller, conduit means for supplying gas selectively; to. each said passage, andmeans for recirculating pulp from an upper portion of the cellinto the outermost passage. 7

flotation apparatus, inclusive of,

' adjacent the froth overflow level, including av plurality of divergent portions extending into areas of said cell remote from the froth overflow, and, froth conducting means constructed and arranged to receive :froth overflowing into said horizontal launder and to conduct the collected.

igrln froth flotation apparatus, inclusive 0f a ,a rotary impeller in the lower portionof the cell, and a hollow column extending from an elevation immediately over the impeller into the upper portion of the cell and having its upper end sealed against the discharge of gas, the im movement which comprises partitioning means in-the column dividing its interior into two substantially coextensiyepassages terminating above froth by gravity to a point of discharge outside said cell.

l6. In froth flotation apparatus, including a cell of rectangular section having a froth overflow extending along one of its sides in the upper portion of the cell, the improvement which comprises a horizontally disposed launder in the cell adjacent the froth overflow level, including a plu-, rality of divergent portions extending into areas.

of saidcell remote from the froth overflow, froth conducting means constructed and arranged to receive froth overflowing into said horizontal launder and to conduct the collected froth by gravity, to a point of discharge outside said cell, andgmeans associated with the cell for "varying the elevation of the horizontal launder in saidcell.

17. In froth flotation apparatus, including a" cell of rectangular section having a'froth overgflow extending along one of its sides in the upper; portion of the cell, the improvement whichcomprises a horizontally disposed launder in the cell adjacent the froth overflow level, including three divergent portions extending into areas of said; cellremote from the froth overflow, and frothv conducting meansconstructed and arranged to.

receive froth overflowing into said horizontal launderand to conduct thecollected froth by gravity to a'pointofwdischargeoutside said cell.

ARTHUR c. DAMAN.- I

REFERENCES CITED" The followingv references are of record in theflle of this patent? STATES PATENTS UNITED Number v Name v Date 1,285,061 Daman, Nov. 19, 1918 ,761,136 Lord June 3, 1930, 1,921,220 Daman Aug. 8, 1933 2,054,249 Fagergren Sept. 15, 1936 2,238,139 Tucker Apr. 15, 1941' 2,393,976 Daman et a1 Feb. 5, 1946: 

